Process for retting textile fibers



Feb. 11, 1930. M. MARCUS PROCESS FOR RETTING TEXTILE mamas 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28, 1928 IN VENTOR M00915 MA 9608 A TTOR NE YS.

Feb. 11,1930. M. MARCUS 7 1,746,315

PROCESS FOR BETTING TEXTILE msmgs Filed May 28. 1928 Z'Sh QQS -Sheet 2 a a 0 i I /50 60 v INVENTOR. Mas-01s Mime-us A TTORNE Y5.

Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

MORRIS MARCUS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MRS. KARIN .HERMANNA CHRISTENSEN, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA PROCESS FOR BETTING TEXTILE FIBERS My invention relates to improvements in methods, because such methods require time and the operators must be of a high caliber.

Chemical retting requires a trained chemist,

and even then any miscalculation on his part as to portion of chemicals in order to correspond with the tenacity of the gum to be removed will at all times be at the expense of the product. 7

In the present invention I use a nitrogen fixing bacteria which, when influenced with a given temperature, quickly obtains an intense degree of' fermentation. The retting thus produced is specific for the ectin and ,leaves the cellulose or filament intact and without impairment to its strength.

A further object of my invention is to provide a process which is inexpensive and which may be done in a continuous manner and on a large scale. It cuts down the entire cost to a fraction of the present process both as, to labor and ingredients, and it produces an even quality of fiber throughout the batch, thus saving all available fibers subjected to the treatment. The process is simple enough to be worked by any intelligent laborer.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in what I hereinafter claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which I Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of an apparatus for carrying out my process;

Figure'2 is a top plan view of the tanks;

-by means of cables 6 that are passed around Application filed May 2a, 1928. Serial No. 281,029. I

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a basket-carrying frame;

Figure 4 is a section along the line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views showgig the length and the width of one of the basets.

In carrying out my invention, I take raw fiber whichmay come from flax, jute, ramie, and other bast or vascular fibers. The fiber is loosened up prior to its being placed in the baskets 1 shown in Figures 5 and 6. These baskets are placed in carriers 2 and are supported by angle irons 3 or other suitable supporting means. A locking bar 4. is secured to the open side of the carrier after, the haskets have been disposed in place.

The carriers 2 are su ported by an overhead trolley 5, and may be raised or lowered drums 7 A cover 8 of a tank 9 is removed, and so is likewise a crank shaft 10. The trolley 5 is then moved so as to position the carriers 2 above the tank 9, and then the chain 11 is manipulated for lowering the carriers down into the tank. The cables 6 are now released from eyelets ll of the carrier, and the eyelets are secured to hooks 12 carried 'by the crank shaft 10. The shaft 10 is rotated by a motor 13 and causes the carriers to be moved up and down Within the tank.

In the tank I dispose water mixed with lime water. I have found out that 1,000 pounds of fiber will take approximately 16,-

000 pounds of water and ten gallons of 3% lime water. The water Within the tank 9 is kept at a temperature between and 110 Fahrenheit while the fiber is rapidly moved up and down in the water. I do not wish to be confined to the particular structure shown for supporting the fiber and moving it in the water. The step in the process is merely to move a quantity of fiber. in water at a certain temperature and containinga certain amount of lime water.

The fiber is kept agitated in the water for approximately fifteen minutes, and then is left to stand for three hours. During the agitation period, the lime water is thoroughly mixed through the fiber and softens it up during the three hour period.

I show means for keeping'tlie temperature of the water at approximately 100 Fahrenheit. The steam is led from a pipe 13 to a coil 14, and its flow is controlled by a valve 15 having a handle 16 disposed above a floor 17. From the coil 14 the steam is injected into a cylinder 18 that is disposed between the compartments A and B of the tank 9. The steam causes the liquid in the cylinder to issue from the open top 19 of the cylinder 18, and this liquid is distributed over the surface of the materials due to the movements of the baskets. The solution is thus made to go through the entire mass of fiber, then through the cylinder, and to evenly distribute the liquid throughout. This means'is very important to the success of the operation.

At the end of the three-hour period, I add one ounce of a nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This starts thia fiber to fermenting. In order to evenly distribute the nitrogen bacillus throughout the entire mass, I apply nitrogen synthetic 2NH about sixteen ounces more or less, according to the tenacity of the gum practice that it is better to to be removed. In some cases 2NH. can be used if more is to be used than the 2NH The mass is left to stand for six hours, then it is agitated fifteen to thirty minutes, and is again left to stand from three to four hours.

The solution is now drawn off through the drainage pipe 20, and then the carriers are connected to the trolley 5 and are moved over to a tank 21 and are disposed in compartments C and D of this tank. The tank 21 is similar to the tank 9-Wil3ll the exception that it is made of metal instead of wood, because I have found that metal is the better material for the steps yet to be set forth, While wood is preferable for the stepsalready described. A crank shaft (not shown) similar to the crank shaft 10, is disposed in the top of the tank 21, and the carriers 2 are connected therewith.

In the tank 21 saponification takes place. In the tank 9 the action of the nitrogen fixing bacteria upon the fiber has separated the pectin from the mass and has made small granules which must now be washed out from the mass. This is 'done by the saponification step. It is obvious that the saponification can take place in the same tank if desired without'departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, but I have found from tank. Soda ash, caustic soda, or other alkali, is placed in the tank 21. For exanple, 1,000 pounds of fiber would take approximately 15 pounds of caustic soda for the saponification process. Enough water is placed in the tank to cover the baskets, and the water is warm at the time it is added. The temperhave a separate point by steam being admitted to the tank, this steam being controlled by valve 22 and passing through a coil 23 into a cylinder 24 and issuing from the top thereof at 25. The

baskets are kept in motion, and therefore the fiber will be thoroughly Washed in the boiling water. An equal amount of common cooking salt, i. e. 15 pounds, and approximately one-half gallon of Turkey red oil should be added to the caustic soda and the Water in order to soften the fibers. This would make the fibers silky to the touch. The salt and the oil will react on the strong caustic soda and soften the entire solution. The Washing step continues for approximately three hours, during which time all the granules areremoved from the fibers. The solution may be drained through a pipe 26, and then Warm Water may be added to the fiber and the fiber agitated in this water for The fiber may now be removed from the I tank 21 and may be dried while still in the baskets or may be passed through driers and wringers. The fiber is now ready for spin ning.

Although I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of various changes, and I reserve the right to employ such changes as may come Within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

. The herein described steps in'the process of retting fibers which consists in agitating the fiber for about fifteen minutes in water and nitrogen fixing bacteria heated to approximately Fahrenheit, and in letting the fiber remain immersed for approximately three hours while maintaining the same temperature.

MORRIS MARCUS.

ature of this water is raised to the boiling 

